Tatarstan Justice Minister's Son Suspected Of Bribe-Taking

KAZAN, Russia -- A son of a top official in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan is suspected of bribe-taking in connection with utilities delivery to a retailer.

Tatarstan's Prosecutor-General Ildus Nafikov told journalists in the Tatar capital, Kazan, that Ildar Kormanov, 33, a son of the republic's justice minister, Midkhat Kormanov, is suspected of taking a payoff of 47 million rubles ($1,466,000) from a French home-improvement retailer, Leroy Merlin.

Nafikov said the arrest of Ildar Kormanov is pending.

The bribe was allegedly in exchange for arranging the utilities for a new store in Kazan.

An energy company established by Kormanov's mother and father-in-law was allegedly involved in the deal.

Nafikov was appointed to the prosecutor-general's post last month.

He said the allegations were being made public now due to the "big noise" that might be caused by the involvement of "big names."